Sean Dailey, editor of Gilbert magazine, home of the best in Chesterton studies and Chestertonian reflections on our times, has responded to a recent outbreak of Harry Hating in the world of American Catholics (most notably, a reprinted rant of a Star Chamber priest and yet another EWTN talk with the ever amiable Michael O’Brien, who shares his insight that unrepentant Potter Philes are secretly addicted to their “spiritual pornography”). Mr. Dailey takes the high road in his retort by addressing the usual tack of Catholic culture warriors with a Rowling fixation, namely, their assertion that human beings don’t play with magic in real fantasy literature, by which they mean The Lord of the Rings. The argument he makes is cogent and has the added benefit of taking you to the American Chesterton Society website for a visit. Enjoy the counter-argument to the usual tripe and the time spent abroad among civilized people.
A Chestertonian Rebuke to Catholic Harry Haters: On Human Beings and Magic in J. R. R. Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’
Narnia Film Franchise Alive? ‘Magician’s Nephew’ on Deck
For those wondering if The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was the last Chronicles of Narnia book to be made into a film, the word today is that the film franchise is alive — and that the plan is to go with The Magician’s Nephew rather than The Silver Chair. [Read the story ‘New Narnia’ at fandango.com; H/T to Candice!]
Believe it or not, I rather like the idea of Nephew being chosen over Chair, though the latter is perhaps my favorite Narniad adventure (and a real shame it is that we don’t get to see more of Eustace Scrubb right away). As the fourth film, Nephew will be the center of the seven part series; this is a good thing because in several important ways it is the pivotal story in the collection.
It was the last book written, believe it or not, though Lewis began writing it almost immediately after The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was published and Nephew was published before Last Battle. In Nephew, I speculate, the author quite vividly reveals several important messages about his artistry and his meaning. Real quickly, the Wood Between the Worlds is a pointer to the “inside bigger than the outside,” the Logos beneath, behind, and within everything created, a theme Aslan’s creative song only reinforces. The magic rings are a transparency for the Ring Composition of each book. And the prize silver apple from the tree in the centre of the garden? The Rev. Michael Ward makes a good case for the astrological meaning of Nephew being venereal, but this light laden fruit is alchemical artistry.
Last Call for Papers: The 2011 PotterWatch Conference
If you live within driving distance of Charlotte, North Carolina, you are in for a treat — and if you’re a student of any kind, there’s an opportunity to roll out your Harry Potter smarts in public. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s official fandom group, PotterWatch, is sponsoring an academic conference this April 9th on ‘Why We Love Harry,’ his “crossover appeal,” and they have Dr. Amy H. Sturgis as their Featured Speaker.
Their Call for Papers deadline is, gulp. Saturday, 26 March, and the all the relevant information is below the jump. I wish I could get down there; if you can, please send us a full report!
Going Price for ‘Philosopher’s Stone’ First Edition: $30 Gs
The going price, as of 2009, is just short of $30,000. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone 1st edition sells for $29,875 (H/T to James!)
Why so much? The first run was very short, only 500 copies, and was distributed primarily to libraries, schools, and reviewers. Most copies, consequently, were either dumped or heavily used. The big price is paid for a 1st Edition in excellent condition. Scarcity squared in other words, when combined with high demand yields a bidding war. Read about that in the comments following the article above or this wonderful post about how to recognize a first edition at ‘Is My Harry Potter Book Valuable?’
In the beginning of what promises to be an extended inflationary cycle, I suppose this sort of purchase has to be considered as an investment against hard times. Even so, I confess to being astonished at the dollar figure. As much as I love the story, I ask myself — Do I live in a world with different priorities and interests than a First Edition buyer or is it just the relatively small purse I carry that prevents me from paying $30,000 for a book I can pick up at a yard sale for a dime?
Listen to C. S. Lewis’ BBC Broadcast: ‘Beyond Personality’
A good friend sent me a link last night to an archived recording of C. S. Lewis’ BBC broadcast of ‘Beyond Personality’ during WWII, a talk that was published as a book in its own right and then became the fourth and last part of Mere Christianity. It turns out, as is almost always the case with CSL matters, that this isn’t a new discovery but is only new to me. For easier access to the talk and a short introduction, for example, please see this CSL fan’s weBlog.
Still, I confess to being fascinated, even thrilled, to hear ‘the Master’s Voice.’ I imagined the man almost stepping out of the Wardrobe to talk to my family after dinner around the fireplace — as I think listeners in the UK might have done next to their radios in late March, 1944, if it was a damp, cold night.
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